602 or 701...?

ConanTLibrarian · 11-11-2010, 04:42 PM

Well, I had my mind set on a Pocketbook for a while, and after waiting for the 602s and 603 to arrive, I then saw... the IQ 701.

For a moment, that one seemed the right choice instead - the color screen, the processor, the attractive price...

(By the way, *does* it have a backlight or not? In the pre-specifications I saw it did, but now I'm not sure. That feature would actually be something I certainly wouldn't mind.)

But then I started reading about it being essentially a Pandigital Novel, and I saw the opinions on that tool:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/p...-novel-review/

Bad screen, sluggish speed? :/ Certainly not what I want. Has anyone had a hands-on experience with the 701 vs the 602? Which one is better? As a reader, that is - I just care about the supported formats, a crisp screen that can be read without stressing the eyes the way LCD screens will, and relatively fast page turning. I couldn't really care less about games and so on.

Is the kind of screen that the IQ lists (TFT) worse than 602's e-paper? According to what I'm reading, it would seem to be... but is that the case?

In short, which one to go for?

desertgrandma · 11-11-2010, 04:43 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, ConanTLibrarian

I'm sure you are about to get many opinions soon....

soondai · 11-11-2010, 04:58 PM

The IQ (701) hasn't shipped yet, so I don't think there are any hands on review yet.
The LCD would be "backlit."

For what it's worth, it is supposed to have a better processor than the PDN. 800 vs 533.

I've read plenty of pretty good reviews of the PDN. The key is knowing what you're getting. It won't be a mini iPad. But it has the potential to be a very cool reader with some other uses.

Shortly after they ship, we'll definitely see reviews and know if that potential was realized.

fjtorres · 11-11-2010, 05:53 PM

Do you have any experience with PDAs? PocketPCs in particular?
That would give you an idea of what to expect as to responsiveness of the touchscreen, the quality of the LCD screen, and battery life.

Exactly what to expect in terms of software performance is something we'll know shortly (once the IQ ships) but there is some reason to be hopeful: the Pocketbook core reader software is known to run *very* well on 400 MHz ARM CPUs so the extra boost to 533 MHz can't hurt.
A further clue is that Android as an environment has been described as Java on Linux but the Pocketbook Apps on the eink readers run on the core Linux OS; if the same is true of the IQ the native Pocketbook apps should run just fine.
The Android apps, being compiled Java...
Well, Java is known for code portability, not extreme performance, and the Android devices that shine by their performance tend to run on the newest 1GHz CPUs, so...
(shrug)

It's up to you to weigh the virtues of the eInk platform (paperlike display, extreme battery life, low weight) vs the virtues of LCD (backlighting, color, video capability) and their corresponding weaknesses.

In many ways, the two are going to be complementary.
(Which is where my interest comes in.)

11-11-2010, 04:42 PM	#1
ConanTLibrarian Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Pocketbook?	602 or 701...? Well, I had my mind set on a Pocketbook for a while, and after waiting for the 602s and 603 to arrive, I then saw... the IQ 701. For a moment, that one seemed the right choice instead - the color screen, the processor, the attractive price... (By the way, does it have a backlight or not? In the pre-specifications I saw it did, but now I'm not sure. That feature would actually be something I certainly wouldn't mind.) But then I started reading about it being essentially a Pandigital Novel, and I saw the opinions on that tool: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/p...-novel-review/ Bad screen, sluggish speed? :/ Certainly not what I want. Has anyone had a hands-on experience with the 701 vs the 602? Which one is better? As a reader, that is - I just care about the supported formats, a crisp screen that can be read without stressing the eyes the way LCD screens will, and relatively fast page turning. I couldn't really care less about games and so on. Is the kind of screen that the IQ lists (TFT) worse than 602's e-paper? According to what I'm reading, it would seem to be... but is that the case? In short, which one to go for?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New five: Pocket Book-Pro 602, 603, 902, 903 & IQ-701	jonsbjons	PocketBook	8	11-07-2010 04:24 PM
What is the Pocketbook 602 ?	aceflor	PocketBook	40	06-10-2010 12:32 AM
Nuut NP-602	Leoric1991	Which one should I buy?	3	02-08-2010 06:19 AM
Meet the Cloudbook, competition for the 701	Nate the great	News	0	12-10-2007 07:55 PM

11-11-2010, 04:43 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, ConanTLibrarian I'm sure you are about to get many opinions soon....

11-11-2010, 04:58 PM	#3
soondai Guru Posts: 672 Karma: 1109784 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Paperwhite	The IQ (701) hasn't shipped yet, so I don't think there are any hands on review yet. The LCD would be "backlit." For what it's worth, it is supposed to have a better processor than the PDN. 800 vs 533. I've read plenty of pretty good reviews of the PDN. The key is knowing what you're getting. It won't be a mini iPad. But it has the potential to be a very cool reader with some other uses. Shortly after they ship, we'll definitely see reviews and know if that potential was realized.

11-11-2010, 05:53 PM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Do you have any experience with PDAs? PocketPCs in particular? That would give you an idea of what to expect as to responsiveness of the touchscreen, the quality of the LCD screen, and battery life. Exactly what to expect in terms of software performance is something we'll know shortly (once the IQ ships) but there is some reason to be hopeful: the Pocketbook core reader software is known to run very well on 400 MHz ARM CPUs so the extra boost to 533 MHz can't hurt. A further clue is that Android as an environment has been described as Java on Linux but the Pocketbook Apps on the eink readers run on the core Linux OS; if the same is true of the IQ the native Pocketbook apps should run just fine. The Android apps, being compiled Java... Well, Java is known for code portability, not extreme performance, and the Android devices that shine by their performance tend to run on the newest 1GHz CPUs, so... (shrug) It's up to you to weigh the virtues of the eInk platform (paperlike display, extreme battery life, low weight) vs the virtues of LCD (backlighting, color, video capability) and their corresponding weaknesses. In many ways, the two are going to be complementary. (Which is where my interest comes in.)

Advert